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Come Back, Sweet Pea
2008-09-08 05:58
by Alex Belth

A few days ago, Pete Abraham ran an item on how the Yankees have handled "The Final Year of Yankee Stadium." Previously, he suggested that it'd sure be nice to see Bernie Williams show up in some capacity. I couldn't agree more. It was a drag that Bernie wasn't there for Old Timer's Day. But nevermind about that, so long as he shows up before the final curtain drops two weeks from yesterday.

According to a post over at the Bats blog, Tyler Kepner has this from Steve Fortunato, Bernie Williams' marketing rep:

Asked if Williams would visit Yankee Stadium during the final home stand, Fortunato seemed to indicate that he would. Williams has not returned in public to the Stadium since his last game there as a player in 2006.

"Those details are all being worked out as we speak," Fortunato said. "As soon as there's something official or final, we will work on that. All that stuff is being worked on right now. I think it's going to be a good day."

Work it out, bro. We miss ya.

Comments
2008-09-08 06:31:48
1.   OldYanksFan
Off-topic-because-why-bother-talking-about-the-Yankees-this-year-thought:
This year, Beltran has posted a .277 .367 .480 .848 line.
This line is very close to his METs career aveage (.863 OPS).
While still very good for a CFer, I had sort of expected a little more. He's paid $17m/yr for 7 years.
I always thought it was a big mistake to pass on him, but later I thought Melky could have a .760 OPS for pennies.

Has Beltran been a little bit of a disappointment? Was he overhyped? Would he have made $17m of a difference for the Yankees?

2008-09-08 06:48:28
2.   ms october
yesterday on the seattle broadcast of the game mr lucky strike said that every living yankee was going to be at the final game against baltimore. while i find that hard to believe - after all i doubt the guys who are coaching elsewhere will be able to make it - my first and really only thought was that i hope that means bernie will be there.

looking back i guess the closing out the stadium stuff has been pretty lame - it didn't really bother me earlier when the yanks at least had a chance for the post season - but now this season just seems so lost - they are not a playoff team; the transition year for the pitchers didn't take hold with injuries and underperformance; and the closing yankee stadium down was pedestrian.

1 i think beltran's performance in the post season the year he was with the astros led to insane expectations. he had a mediocre 1st season; a great 2nd season(150 ops+); and the last 2 seasons have been good but not peak. he isn't really stealing that many bases with the mets, but he is giving them about what they should have reasonably expected.

2008-09-08 06:57:00
3.   JL25and3
1 I agree with 2 . The last two seasons aren't superstar seasons, but they're pretty darn good.

Remember, he's playing in a pitcher's park now, so of course his raw numbers are going to look less impressive.

He's stealing 20 bases a year instead of 40, but he's also on a better team, so I'd expect him to steal less. His success rate is still stupendous - 43 of 48 the last two years.

And he's an excellent center fielder.

So while it's not a great contract, I think it's a pretty good one.

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